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Leelah Alcorn honored at Golden Globe Awards

1,303 views · Published 15 January 2015 · 3:19 · Indexed 22 September 2026

Channel: LOCAL 12 · 2015 · News & Politics

CINCINNATI (Larry Davis) -- A local teenager, whose suicide brought attention to the challenges of gender identity, was honored at a national television awards show.

The Golden Globe for Best Television Comedy or a Musical was dedicated to Leelah Alcorn by the creator of the show Transparent.

The story of Leelah Alcorn has brought more attention to the local lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender community.

Local leaders hope that Sunday night's dedication at the Golden Globes opens eyes all across the country and the world.

When the cast and producers of Transparent stepped on stage to accept their Golden Globe many were surprised to hear who creator Jill Soloway was dedicating the award to.

"I want to thank the transgender community, they are our family, they make this possible, said Soloway. This award is dedicated to the memory of Leelah Alcorn and to many transgender people who die too young."

In her suicide note, 17-year-old Leelah Alcorn said she wanted her life to mean something, but she said her life wasn't worth living because she was transgender.

At recent vigils for Leelah, leaders in the transgender community are telling trans youth that their life means everything.

They are grateful to hear Leelah remembered at the Golden Globes, but say more must be done to make transgenders more inclusive.

"We are a city still in triage. We're not at a place where we can celebrate at the Golden Globes and yeah Transparent has won a shout-out to Leelah Alcorn, said Lindsey Deaton of the Diverse City Youth Chorus. We're still reeling from this, trying to figure out where we are in this community."

Lindsey Deaton said that there wasn't a transgender community before Leelah Alcorn's death and that it was underground and hidden.

She and others in the community are still trying to determine how to move forward, even after the exposure at the golden globes.

"We want to focus on what do we do from here for our community for the outside community because we have to learn that we have to be inclusive on this earth, said Fe Harris of the Trans Saints Ministry Team. Everybody deserves....human rights"

"Its important that everyone just understands that we're human like you are, said Lindsey Deaton. We are looking for respect and dignity just like you would and our hearts beat with blood just like yours do"

Maybe we're going to teach the world something about authenticity and truth and love, said Jill Soloway. To love

Leelahs father declined to comment on the Golden Globe dedication.

Meanwhile, leaders in the trans community said that they hope to establish a trans center for youth, a place where they can go and feel safe.

Trans leaders say they don't want to focus on Leelah's death but where to go from here, but at the vigils they are addressing the same issues Leelah faced, telling them there life means everything.

In fact, organizers have handed out gun locks and suicide prevention kits.

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Leelah Alcorn honored at Golden Globe Awards

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